Co-defendant in identity theft spree given jail, probation

OROVILLE — A co-defendant Tuesday was ordered to serve two years in jail and probation for her role in identity theft cases in Butte County and the north state.

Butte County Superior Court Judge Clare Keithley first handed down an upper-term sentence of six years, four months for Elizabeth Lee Holcraft for five felony counts of identity theft and forgery in one case and felony drug possession in another.

The judge then ordered that Holcraft serve two years in custody. The remainder of the sentence was suspended pending successful completion of probation.

Holcraft's co-defendant, Kristopher Thomas Castro, is scheduled to be sentenced next Tuesday. He previously pleaded to five felony counts of identity theft and forgery in one case.

Castro and Holcraft were initially identified as suspects after a Magalia resident called July 25 and reported a credit card was used for purchases at several Oroville locations.

The defendants were reportedly involved in a mailbox theft in Magalia and several identity theft cases in Paradise. As they moved from Reno to Fort Bragg, they would reportedly cash checks stolen from mail and use credit information to obtain goods.

Clearlake police arrested Castro at a hotel on Aug. 13, with Holcraft arrested later at a different Clearlake hotel.

During Tuesday's sentencing, Judge Keithley initially denied granting Holcraft probation. She noted the nature, circumstance and seriousness of the crimes was more severe than similar incidents.

In handing down the upper-term sentence, Keithley noted aggravating factors, including the fact Holcraft induced Castro to participate.

Also, the defendants targeted numerous individuals and inflicted high monetary loss and emotional injury on the victims. Keithley said the defendants' actions in one case left the victim without money to purchase essential medicine. In another case, they took a victim's money while the victim was out of town and without access to other resources.

In mitigation, the judge noted Holcraft admitted guilt early in the criminal process.

Holcraft was ordered to pay restitution to the victims. She was also given four months of custody credits.